Starting device for explosive-engines.



R. F. WEBBER.

STARTING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3. 1911. 1,160,476. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I R'. F. WEBBER.

STARTING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES; APPLICATION FILED JULY 3.1911.

1 ,1 60,476. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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aim i r fl UN ED STATES Parana OFFICE.

ROLLIN WEBIBER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

STARTING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RoLLIN F. VEBBER,

citizen of the United States, residing at.

WVashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in Starting Devices for Explosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the, accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improvement in starting devices for explosive engines and more particularly to an improvement in starting devices of the general type disclosed in the application of Rollin F. lVebber and George l/V. Slater, filed March 19., 1910, Serial No. 550,518.

In this type of starter, the starting of the motor is effected by the shifting of an actuating arm or member which is operatively associated with the motor shaft and between which and the motor shaft is interposed a pawl and ratchetconnection, and means are provided foriautomatically throwing the -pawl to a position'to engage the ratchet wheel of the engine shaft upon, movement of the actuating arm or member in one direction and for automatically disengaging the pawl from its ratchet upon movement of the actuating arm or member inthe opposite direction andupon a reverse movement of the motor shaft.

The object of thepresent invention is the provision in a starting device of thischaracter of improved means for actuating the pawl to throw the same intoand out-0f operative position. i

A further object of. the present invention is the provision in a starting device of this character, of means for throwing the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel, of such a construction that after the actuating arm or member has been moved a sufiicient distance to cause the pawl actuating means to throw the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel, said pawl actuating means will maintain its operative connectionwith the pawl during the remainder ofthe movement of the actuating arm or member, so that at any time during such remainder of the stroke thepawl'will, when the actuating member is movedv in one direction, be caused to automatically engage the ratchet and when the actuating member is moved in the other direction, the pawl will be automatically disengaged from the ratchet. Thisis Specification of Letters Patent.

YA the shaft of such engine. the shaft A of the engine A is a ratchet Patented Nov. 1c; 1915.

Application filed July 3, 1911. Serial No. 636,794.

an important feature of the invention as it enables the operator to spin the engine shaft by lmparting to the actuating member a series of reciprocations' after the same has been moved beyondthe point where the pawl actuating means has'been shifted into operative connection with the pawl.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a starting device of this character of improved means for varying the time at which the pawl will be thrown into operative position.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter when read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein a convenient embodiment of the invention .is illustrated, and wherein like characters of referencerefer to similar. parts in the several views. 4 i

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved starting mechanismshowing parts in their inactive position. Fig. 1 is an enlarged view of a por tion of the mechanism illustrated in Fig.1. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1, parts beingbroken away. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1, the pawl of the actuating arm having been thrown into engagement. with the ratchet wheel on the, engine shaft. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the actuating arm of the device, and Fig. 5 is a detailed view illustrating the manner of connecting the operating lever and link which extends therefrom to the actuating arm.

drawings, A indicates an explosive engine which is adapted to be suitably mounted in a vehicle frame of the usual construction and Keyed upon wheel A J ournaled in a suitable bearing. carried by the frame of the vehicleand in alinement with the engine shaft A, is a stub shaft B and rigidly mounted upon saidstub shaft is an actuating arm C to the inner face of which is pivoted a ratchet or dog 0 which is adapted to cooperate with the ratchet wheel A upon the engine shaft. The dog or ratchet c is in the form of a bell crank lever, the short arm of which constitutes the nose 1 of the pawl which is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel A ;and the long i arm ofwhich extends alongside of the inner surface of the actuating arm C.

Projecting laterally'from'the long arm of the pawl or dog adjacent thepivot point i of the pawl, is a pin or stud c for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly set forth. Positioned at one side of the stub shaft B,

hereinbefore referred to, andpivotally sup-w ported at its lower end, in any suitable manner' frorn'the frameof'the vehicle, is an up standing lever D." The lever'D is of greater length than: the length of the actuating arm G and the length of saidjlever also preferably exceeds the distance-between its pivot and the pivot of the actuating armwC, so

that suchlever may be moved to a position with thefree end thereof'overlying the enygine shaft; as shown in Fig. 1. III-this connection it will be understood that while it'is stated that the lever'D is pivotally supported at one side of the shaft B so that the free end of such 'lever maybe moved-to a posi-' tion to oyerlie said sh'aft, the lever may-be positioned at-any point aroundthe shaft B and'the parts operatively connected thereto will be'positioned accordingly. The free. end of the lever D is pivotally connected-to the free end of'the actuating 7 arm C by means of an elongated downwardly curved link E, which linlc'isgof greater length than the distance betweenthe pivotpin of the arm C and lever- D. The link E is pivotally connected to the side of the actuating arm'C upon which is supported-the dog aand such link is-provided at its other endwith' a 'bifurcated portion between'jwhich the outer end offthe lever D is pivotally .said"segn 1ent in any suitable manner.

supported; said bifurcated portion being so disposed that the lever D and the link E will be-positioned in substantially the same vertical plane. The lever D has secured to its lower end a segment D which'is pro vided with'a curved periphery" for therecepti'onof anactuated cable F, which'is seated in the grooved periphery of thesegmentand has one end thereof anchored to one end of vehicle. The opposite end of the'cable is adapted to be operatively connected in any suitable manner to operating mechanism whereby a pull may be exerted on the cable atthewill o f'the operator. Any suitable form of operating device or handle-may be used for this purpose and I have deemed it unnecessary to lllustrate anyparticular constructlon for accomplishing this 'result in the present application.

3 The linkE is connected-to the actuating arm .Crby means of a pivot bolt H, which away portion h5- thereof: The

comprises a cylindrical body portion h which is adapted to loosely engage alined apertures in the actuating arm G and the end of the link E, and Whichterminates in a reduced portion hf which projects beyond the actuating arm'C and upon which is adapted to be threaded a securing nut h? for holdingthe bolt in position. The opposite end of the bodyportion h of the bolt terminates in an enlarged circular portion k which-is adapted to .lie upon the outer surface of thelinkE and ahead 72 which is of greater-diameter than the circular portion 72. :In practice the head h of the, boltl-I is made in circular form anda portion of the periphery thereof iscut'away as atla EX- tendingthroughthe link E and engaging the portion of therbolt H which passestherethroughiis a set screw hflpwhich serves to rigidly lock the bol-t to the linkbutwhich permits'said bolt to be'adjusted circumferentially in; said link. Loosely mounted on the circular"- portion h of the bolt between the head h thereof'zmd thelink Evis an arm I which isa'dapted'toLove'rlie thelonjg. armof the pawl or dog 0 and which is provided in the outer end thereof with a longitudinally disposed slotl z' which loosely engages' the stud c'projecting from the longarm of said "pawl: or dog: Secured to theie xterior of the arm- Iis aplate K, which is conveniently formed of'spring metal, and. which is provided with-a segmentalflangelc projecting laterally from one end thereof and'underlyingjtheperiphery of the'bolt... The spring plate K is provided'w'ith aslot ic extend- "ing longitudinally thereofand isadjustably secured totheiarm I by means f Screw; I

passing through said arm, so thatthe plate may be adjusted to. bringthe flange Zr thereof toward or away from the periphery of the head-h of the bolt'H. In practice the plate K is Isa-adjusted? that the flange 76 thereof will normally contact with themain portionfof the periphery of the; head h of the bolt but will not contact with the cut 7 The normal position of'the parts :is indicated in Fig. 1- and all of theparts of the de- -vic'e are normally maintained: in this position by a suitable spring Liw-hich ,isprefer- 'ably interposed between the actuating arm and-the frame of the machine; It. will'be noted that when the parts are in this position, the pawl is out Ofengagement With its ratchet andthe -fiange 7c of theplate K is positioned within the cut awavgp'ortion of the periphery of the head h of the bolt H. With the parts in thispositio'n, to start the engine the operator pulls upon the cable F,:

thus rocking the, lever D. on its pivot and turning the actuating arm C around its piv between said lever and actuating arm. Dur- 'otalsupp'ort, through the link connection tween the link Eand the actuating arm will be gradually increased, and as the bolt H is rigid with the link E, and is loose in the actuating arm C, it will be turnedrelatively to said arm andthe circular portion'of the periphery of the head h of said bolt will be moved into frictional engagement with the segmental flange 7; of the spring plateK, and as the parts continue to move, the arm I will by reasonlof such frictional'engagement between the head of the bolt and the flange it of the plate K, be caused to swing on thebolt, which will, through the pin and slot connection between the arm I and the long arm of the pawl or ,dog 0, throw said pawl or dog into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel A on the engine shaft.

By reason of the employment of the relatively long pawl actuating memberI, and by reason of the fact that such arm is connected to the pawl adjacent its pivot point, it will be seen that the movement of the pawl will be much more rapid than that of the actuating arm C so that the pawlwill be thrown into engagement with its ratchet almost immediately after the engagement of the circular portion on the head if of the bolt H- with the segmental flange it of the spring plate K. As soon as the pawl is thrown into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, such pawl will be held against further movement on its pivot and during the remainder of themovement of the parts, the curved portion of the head h of the bolt will slip over the segmental flange 76 of the spring plate K. As soon as the engine has been started, and the pull on the cableF is released, the spring heretofore referred to will restore the parts to normal position. During the return movement of the parts, the a bolt head it will, of course, be shifted relatively to the actuating arm C, and as the resistance on the nose of the pawl has been relieved, such movement of the bolt head will, through its engagement with the segmental shaped flange is on the plate K, shift the arm I and lift the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel. Should the engine shaft turn in a reverse direction, or kick back, the pawl, ifin engagement with its ratchet wheel, would remain in this position, by reason of the frictional engagement between the teeth of said ratchet wheel and. the nose of the pawl, and the head would ride over thefiangeis of the plate E without effecting the disengagement of the: pawl from its ratchet, and I therefore prefer to provide some positive means for ejecting the pawl in the event of this occurrence. In the construction shown in the drawings, such. means comprises a projection E which eX- tends downwardly from the link E adjacent its connection with the actuating arm, and is so positioned that as the parts are returned to normal position, it will engage the long arm of the dog or pawl c and force the same out of engagement with the ratchet, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. As the projection E" which extends from the link E engages the arm of, the actuating pawl and shifts such pawl, the, nose of the pawl will be caused to contact with the lower edge of the link E, thus constituting a stop to limit the movement of said link, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1*, If desired, a buffer may-be interposed between the nose of the pawl and the link and in the drawings I have shown the link provided with such a buffer 6 of rubber or other suitable material, at the point where such link engages the nose of the pawl.

It will be noted that after the parts have been so shifted to bring the circular portion k of the bolt H into engagement with the segmental flange is of the plate K, such circular portion will remain in engagement with said flange during the remainder of the movement of the actuating arm, This is an vimportant feature of the present construction as it enables the actuating, member to be reversed a slight distance and then again moved forward when the pawl will be thrown into engagement with the ratchet wheel, whereas in the structure of the type shown in the Webber and Slaterapplication, heretofore referred to, it was necessary to return the actuating arm to its initial position at all times before the pawl could be engaged with the ratchet wheel. The present construction enables the operator to spin the engine shaft by imparting a series'of short reciprocationsrto the actuating arm C, after-such arm has once been moved far enough tobring the pawl actuating member into operative connection with the pawl.

It will also be noted that with the present construction, by adjusting the bolt H in the link E, thetime of actuating thepawl may after any desired amount of movement of the actuating arm C. V

I do not desire to claim broadly in the present application, a starting device for' motors including a pawl and ratchet coupling between the actuating parts of the device and the motor shaft, means forautomatically throwing the pawl into engagement with its ratchet, and means for adjusting said last mentioned means to vary the time of actuation'of said pawl, as I many changes may be made tov the form and construction therein shown without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

.have claimed such invention broadlyin my What I claiin is: I a LA starting device for motors .including a pawl and ratchetconn'ection operatively associated with the engine shaft, an

actuating member carrying said "pawl, op.

erating ii ea-ns for the actuating arm, pawl thI OWIHg'HiGaIlS adapted uponmovement of said I actuating member by said I operating means in one direction to throw the pawl into engagement with the ratchet and adapted duringmovementfof the actuating m eniiber' by the operating means in the. opposite direction to disengage the pawl from the ratchet, and means for loperatively conmaintaining said "necting said pawl throwing 'nieans with said pawl after a predetermined amount of movement of the actuating member and operative 7 throughout the remainder 'of m'ovement of the actuating member.

[2.The combination with a motor, of

member'carrying said pawl and movable means including frictionally engaging members adapted to slip one upon the other after the pawl has been thrown intoj'em "gagement with its ratchet] 3. The combination ing membercarrying said pawl and movable about said shaft, means acting automatically after a predetermined amount of movement ottheactuating member to throw the pawl into engagement with tl e'ratchet,

I vary said means including frictionally engaging members adapted to slip one upon the other after the pawl has" been thrown intoiengagement'with its ratchet, and means for t g the time of throwing the pawl into engagement with its ratchet. V I l 4.7 The combination .with "a motor, of

means for starting the same including a pawl and ratchet connection operatively associated with the engine shaft, an actuating arm carrying said pawl and movableabout said'shaft, means for shifting said actuating arm' including a movable part connected thereto, and; means interposed between said movable part and the pawl for'throwing the pawl into engagement with its ratchet upon 'shifting the actuating arm, said means inwith its ratchet;

eluding. frictionally engaging members adapted to slip one upon the other after the pawl has been thrown into engagement 5."The combination with a motor, of

-'. means for starting the'sanie'v includingja connection p I w th a motor,* of eans for starting the same including'a vpawl and ratchet connection operatively associated withtl e engine sl'iaftgan actuatros m a I 9. Th combination with a motor, of

tion of the pawl.

I 10. The combination with a motor, of,

pawl and ratchet connection operatively associated withthe engine shaft,"an'actuating arm carrying said pawlr'and movable about said shaft, ineansfoi'. shifting said actuating arm including a movable part connected theretofand means interposed between said movable part and the pawl for throwing the pawl into engagement with its ratchet'upon shifting the actuating arm, said means in- 'cluding frictionally en a ing members adapted toslip one upon-the other after the pawl has been" throwninto engagement with its ratchet, and means on said movable part forjengaging the pawl and positively holding thesame out "of engagement with the ratchet-in the reverse inovement'of the device. ,a a i 6. The combination with a motor,f of means "for starting the same including a pawl and ratchet connection operatively associated'with the engine shaft, an actuating member carrying said p'au' l, means for shifting StilCl actuating member including a part movableftherewith, and an arm shiftable' with said movableipart, and a loose connection between the free .endjoffsaida'rm and TQ'The' combination with a motor, j of "means forstarting the same includi'ngfla p'awl and ratchet connection operativ l' sociated with saidengine shaft, an' actuating arm carrying said pawl, a pivoted pawl throwing arm movablewith said actuating "ai'mrand having a' loose connection directly with said pawl, and means acting automatisaid p'awl adjacent'the pivot pointthereof.

cally upon movement of said actuating arm for swinging-the pawl'throwing armto shift the pawl." 7

8, The combination with a motor, of

ineansior]starting the same including a; pawl and ratchet connection 'operatively as- 'sociated' with the engine shaft, an actuating member carrying said pawl, means for shifting said actuating member including a movmem'ber, and means carried by'saidmovable ablepart connected thereto, a pivoted 'pawl actuatingarmmovable with said actuating partforshifting said pawl actuating arm I to throw the'pawlintoand out of operative means for starting the same including a pawl and ratchet connection operatively associated with the engine shaft, an actuating member carryingsaidpawl, means for Shift :1 "ing'said actuating member including a movable part connectedthe eto, a pivoted pawl acti'iatingjarm movablewith sa d actuating member, and means carriedby said movable part for shiftingsaid pawl actuating'arm to throw the pawl into and out of operative position, and means for adjusting said last mentioned meansto vary the time of actuameans for starting the same including a pawl and ratchet connection operatively associated with said engine shaft, an actuating arm carrying said pawl, means for operating said actuating arm including a movable part connected thereto, a pivoted pawl throwing arm movable with said actuating arm and operatively connected with said pawl, and means carried by said movable part for frictionally engaging said pawlthrowing arm to shift the same after a predetermined movement of the actuating arm.

11. The combination with a motor, of means for starting" the same including a pawl and, ratchet connection operatively associated with the engine shaft, an actuating arm carrying said pawl, means for shifting said actuating arm including-a movable part connected thereto, a pivoted pawl throwing arm movable with said actuating arm and operatively associated with said pawl, means carried by said movable part for frictionally engaging said pawl throwing arm to shift the same after a predetermined movement of the actuating arm, and means for adjusting said last mentioned means to vary the time of its engagement with the pawl throwing arm.

12. The combination with a motor, of means for starting the same including a pawl and ratchet connection operatively associated with said engine shaft, an actuating arm carrying said pawl, means for shifting said arm including a part movable therewith, a pivoted pawl throwing arm movable with said actuating arm and operatively connected to said pawl, and means for shifting said pawl throwing arm including membars carried by the pawl throwing arm and the movable part, and adapted to be moved into frictional engagement with each other after a predetermined amount of movement of the actuating arm, and means for adjusting one of said members relatively to the other.

13. The combination with a motor, of means for starting the same including a pawl and ratchet connection operatively associated with the engine shaft, an actuating arm carrying said pawl, operating means for said actuating arm including a link, a pivot bolt rigid with said link and loosely. engaging said actuating arm, a pawl throwing arm loosely mounte don said pivot bolt and operatively connected to said pawl, and means carried by said link for shifting said pawl throwing arm.

14.. In a starting device for motors, the combination with an engine shaft, a ratchet wheel thereon, an arm movable about said engine shaft, a pawl carried by said arm, operating means for said arm including a link pivotally connected thereto, and means interposed between said link and said pawl for automatically throwing the pawl into engagement withth'e ratchet after a prede-:

termined amount of movement of the actupawl and ratchet connection operatively associated with the engine shaft, an actuating,

arm carrying sald pawl, means for operating said arm including a' link, a pivot bolt rigid with the link and loosely engaging said actuating arm, a pawlthrowing arm loosely mounted onsaid pivot bolt, and operatively connected; to said pawl, said pawl throwing arm being provided with a portion lying in r the path-of the periphery of said pivot bolt and adapted to be frictionally engaged thereby upon the operation of the device.

16/The combination" with a motor, of

means for starting the same including a pawl and ratchet connection operatively associated with the engine shaft, an actuating arm for said pawl, means for shifting said arm including a link, a pivot bolt connecting said link and said actuating arm, a pawl throwing arm loosely mounted on'said pivot bolt and operatively connected to said pawl, means for actuating said pawl throwing arm comprising a resilient member carried by the arm, said pivot bolt being movable with the link and disposed to frictionally engage said resilient member during the operation of the device.

17. The combination with a motor, of means for starting the same including a pawl and ratchet connection operatively associated with the engine shaft, an actuating arm for said pawl, means for shifting said actuatingarm including a link, a pivot bolt rigid with said link and loosely engagingsaid actuating arm, said bolt being provided with a head having a portion of its periphery cut away, a pawl throwing arm loosely mounted on said bolt and operatively connected to said pawl, said pawl throwing arm being provided with a portion lying in the path of the periphery of said bolt and adapted to be frictionally engaged thereby.

18. The combination with a motor, of means for starting the same including a pawl and ratchet connection operatively associated with the engine shaft, an actuating arm for said pawl, means for shifting said actuating arm including a link, a pivot bolt rigid with said link and loosely engaging said actuating arm, said bolt being pro vided with a head having a portion of its andv means for oircumferentially adjusting the pivot bolt in the -link.

19. A starting device foriinotors ing a pawl and ratchet,.a n arm onwhich a forward movement of the arm, said movable part being )rovided,.1with;-"portionsadapted; to positively 'engagethe pawl at each side of its pivot point-upbnfareverse movement of the actuating arm, v

20. "In a starting device for motors, the

' combination with an engine shaft, a ratchet wheel-thereon, an, arm movable about the engine shaft, a pawl carried by said'arm,

means-for operating said actuating arm meluding a link,- a, pivot bolt ;loonnecting said link and said actuating arm, a pawl throw inn arm loosely mountedon saidfpivot bolt,

and operativelv. connected tov said pawl, a plate carried by said pawl throwing arm and provided,.; with ala-terally projecting resilient segmental flange, said pivot bolt being movable with the link and having a curved segmental face adapted to'engage I the segmentalfiangeof the plateof the .pawlfl throwing arm, during'the actuation of the device. r f f In testimony whereofl aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses. a

ROLLIN WEBBERJ,

'W'itnesses: I I V i JAs. EMHUTCHINSVON, CALVIN" I MILANS,

Copies of this patent may pe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 1 Washington, C. 

